Electrical controlling mechanism.



Y P. N. REEVES. ELECTRICAL CONTROLLING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED AUG.20, 1912.

1,093,147.. y Patented Apr. 14, 1914,

W/ffiSS'S 7 an far: Frank N. Reeves.

@8771 F502; by y W f so irnrr curios.

FRANK N. REEVES, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRICCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Specification ofLe'tters Patent. Pwt nfied Ap 1% 1914 Application filedAugust 20, 1912. .Serial No. 715,966.

is a "full, clear, and exact description.

This inventionrelates to controlling mechanism for electrical switchingapparatus; its objects are to increase the eifective operation of aseries-of electrical devices, referred to herein as counting relays, inthem control of a responsive device associated with the switchingapparatus and simplify :the mechanism.

I Heretofore controlling mechanism of the type known as counting relayshas been used for governing the operation of selectors 1-n telephoneexchange systems. Such count; ing relays may comprise aseries ofsuccessively operable relays and a series of keys trolling Mechanism, ofwhich the following.

or switches for selecting for effective opera- 7 tion a variable groupof the relays. Asse ciated with these relays there has been employ d aresponsive device which was not actuated until after the last-relay O'the variable dgroup of relays had beenenergized; 3

- Accor ng to the present invention a series.

of electrical devices is so arranged re--.

lation to a series of independently operable switches and a responsivedevice that a circuit for the latter is prepared simultaneously withthat of the last one of a predetermined roup of electrical devicesselected by one of t e series of switches. I r

In the embodiment of my invention shown herein, the responsive-device isin the form ofa relay and operates simultaneously with the last-oneof anselected group of electrical devices or so-cal ed counting relays.

The invention is useful more particularly i in the control of high speedselective switching apparatus for telephone exchange sysprises a seriesof electromagnets, which are operate successively in response to currentimpulses froman impulse transmitter or interrupter, and a series of keysor other suitable form of contact switches, one key or switch beingassociated and arranged with is actuated simultaneously withthecorresponding relay.. The impulse transmitter or interrupter ispreferably in the form of asteppiug relay, the switch contacts of whichalternately make and break a contact inthe circuit of the relays. Theresponsive device is employed as the means of stopping the'operation ofthe impulse transmitter and the selector. It may be in the form of anpreferably relays and which are caused to each relay in such a mannerthat. upon the operation of any key a responsive device ordinary cut-offrelay and its winding may be included a local circuit having a plurality of'normally open branch circuits, each of which is adapted to beclosed by a corresponding switch or key. A. second series of relays ispreferably employed in conjunction with the series first mentioned andthe two series of relays are associated with two docal circuitsrespectively. These local circuits are arranged to be closed alternatelyJoy the stepping rela-y,'the winding of which is included in a maincontrolling circuit which circuit is provided with some suitable form ofcontact making device or interrup- 'ter,,,operatiug in unison with or inthe movement .of :the selector. 'Ihe relays in the two series which areoperateddn alternate suc- .cession' are wlf-locking. The cutoff relaystops the operation of the interrupter and the movement of the selectorpreferably by l peu-ing the main controlling circuit.

I Referring now to the drawing, 1 is a main controlling circuitincluding the winding of contact 3 normally closed but adapted to betems wherein the selector is continuously; driven by theapplication-of'power and a; controlling device intermittently operatedby impulses transmitted to the controlling controlling device in turnoperating the re- I device in the movement of the selector, the.

, sponsive device to stop the movement of the selector and to interruptthev sending of impulses.

More in detail a type of mechanism in which my invention may be employedcomopened by a cut-ofi relay 4. Relay 2 is adapted to alternately closeandvinter'rupt two local circuits 5, 6 through its front and backcontacts 7, 8, respectively.

Current is supplied to the local circuits 5 and 6 from batteries 5 and 6through switches .5 and 6 which are closed during the operationof thecounting relays. There are two series .of these counting relays, thefirst 10 to 17 inclusive being those fed by the local circuit 6 and thesecond 10 to 17 inclusive by the local circuit 5. The winding a steppingrelay or interrupter 2 and a 24 to 31 inclusive each adapted to close a.

of the cut-oflf relay 4. is included in a circuit 23 having a series ofswitches or keys branch of the circuit 23 and thus energize the cut-offrelay 4 simultaneously with a counting relay of the second seriescorres'ponding to the key depressed. In the drawingwhere is shown a.contact device 50 coperating with a starwheel 51- which is rotated inthe advance movement of a con- "trolled automaticselector 52. Thisselector may be employed to perform any desired function in thetelephone exchange system,

such as the selection of a connection between telephone lines. Theadvance movement,

\ closing of the circuit of the clutch magnet 57 the rotating disk 55engages the normally stationary disk 56 which drives the starwheel 51.

periodically to closeand open a. shunt path about the stepping relay 2in themain controlling circuit. This circuit is adapted to be closedinitially by contacts 61, 62 when it is desired to start the selectingoperation.

The operation of the controlling apparatus is as follows: Consider, forexample, that it is desired to send three. impulses in order to'permitthe selector to advance three steps. Switch 26 is closed and cont-acts.61 and 62 are also closed to complete the controlling or fundamentalcircuit. Relays 58 and 2 are energized and the 'sele'ctor 52 begins itsadvance movement; The rotation of the starwhel 51 causes the current tobe shunted from relay 2, once for each step. Relay 58, however, is notaffected but remains energized. Upon the first closing of controllingcircuit 1 relay 2 operates to rent from the same battery through its ownswitch spring or armature close local circuit 5 at contact 7, whichcirpuit normally includes only the winding of relay 10. This relay isenergized and becomes locked in a circuit upplied with cur- 60 insteadof switch spring 9 of relay 2. Relay 1 0 also prepares a circuit fromlocal circuit 6 through switch spring 70 for relay 10 and the latterbecomes energized over this circuitupon the closing of contact 8.

when relay 2 is deenergized bythe closure of the shunt circuit atcontact 50. Relay 10 m turn is locked up through a circuit supplied withcurrent from the same battery 6 but grounded through its own' switchspring 80 instead of switch spring 90f 're-.

lay 2. Relay 10 inturn likewise prepares acircuit from local circuit 5through switch Contact 50 is thus caused but grounded sure 0 localcircuit 6 at contact 8. Relays 12 and 12 are in the same way operated insuccession upon the third closin of local circuits 5 and 6,respectively. inally. simultaneously with the energization of relay 1 2,switch 26 being closed, relay 4 is energized since its local. circuit 23leads to ground through the same contact 95 as the circuit of relay 12.The circuit of relay 4. being battery 4*, 4, 23, 26, 95, 92, 90, 70, 8,9, ground and that of relay 12 being bat tery (r, 6* 6, 12, 95, 92, 90,70,8, 9, ground. No delay is occasioned by waiting for relay 12to close,since not it, but the next to the lastcounting relay completes thecircuit for the responsive device at the same instant that it completesa circuit for thelast counting relay. Consequently the opening of thefundameptalor maincircuit at contact 3 of relay 4 is accomplished themoment the last counting relay. is reached. Current is cut ofiimmediately from stepping relay 2' and the sending of impulses ceases atonce. i

steps. Relays 10, 10, 11, 11, 12, and 12 remain locked up until they aredisconnected from batteries 5 and 6 by the openin of V switches 5 and 6respectively. The w ole operation may be repeated'with any one of thekeys depressed.

The serles of relays and keys may be vextended to any desired extent bycontinuing the circuit arrangement as shown to other .relays and keys.

What I claim is:

1. The cgmbination with a series of successively operable electricaldevices, of means for. selecting a variable group of said devices, aresponsive, device and means for preparing-a circuit for said responsivedevice simultaneously with the preparation of a circuit for the last oneof said electrical means for said last named means responslve over acircuit prepared simultaneously with the circuit for the last one ofsaid electrical devices in any predetermined group. p

3. The combination with a series .of electrical devices and means forcausin their successive operation, of means-for'se ecting apredetermined group of said devices and means operating simultaneouslywith the last device of any selected group adapted to a series ofelectromagnetic devices, a series of independently operated switches, aresponsive device, and a circuit adapted to cause the simultaneousoperation of the responsive device and a selected one of theelectromagnetic devices.

6. The combination with an interrupter,

and a responsive device for controlling said. lnterrupter, of'a serlesof countingrelays operated in succession by said interrupter, a seriesof independently operated switches for selecting varying groups of saidcounting relays, and a circuit including a selected switch and saidresponsive device adapted to be closed simultaneously with the circuitof the last counting relay of a selected group.--

7. The combination with an interrupter, of two series of electromagnets,each independently supplied with current, means under, the control oftheinterrupter for successively causing current to flow through saidelectromagnets, a switch for each one of the electromagnets of one ofthe series adapted to be independently closed, and a responsive deviceadapted to effect a change in the interrupter simultaneously with theenergization of an eleotromagnet whose corresponding switch has beenclosed.

5. The combination with an interrupter of 8. The combination with aselector, its controlling circuit and an interrupter op eratingperiodically in unison with the se lector, of a series of countingrelays, means under the control of the interrupter for successivelyoperating said relays, a series of switches one for each relay, aresponsive device adapted to act upon the controlling circuit of theselector to determine the opera tionlof said selector, and circuitsselected by said switches for connecting said responsive device tooperate simultaneously with a predetermined one of said relays.

9. The combination with an interrupter, of a series of electromagneticdevices, means for selecting a variable group of said .devices, aresponsive device, and means for energizing said device under thecontrol of the next to the last electromagnetic device in any selectedgroup.

10. The combination with a series of successively operable electricaldevices, of

means for selecting a variable group of said devices, a responsivedevice, and means for preparing a circuit whereby said responsive devicemay be operated independently of the last electrical device of a group.

11. The combination with a plurality of relays arranged in pairs, ofmeans for causing the successive operation of said pairs of relays,means for selecting a variable group of said airs of relays, aresponsive device, and a circuit therefor controlled by the first relayof the last pair of apreselected group.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day ofAugust, A. D. 1912.

FRANK N. REEVES.

Witnesses: WALTER FREDERICK HOFFMAN, ELLA EDLER.

